Building construction



May 14, 1963 G, w, sl-nJLi-sl 3,089,569

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 19, 1959 United States Patent O 3,689,569 BUELBENG CNSTRUQTEQN George W. Slnilts, Fiossrnoor, ill., assigner to Brasca Manufacturing Company, Harvey, lil., a corporation oi Delaware Filed Jan. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 737,653 S Claims. (Cl. 139-63) My invention relates to a building construction, having particular reference to suspended ceiling construction, for use primarily in the provision lof an acoustic or insulated ceiling, in which acoustical or insulation material in the form of square or rectangular pieces are used of approxi mately one inch in thickness, and are suspended from the joist or frame structure for the purpose of providing Sound or temperature control in the room or space in which the ceiling is located.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a ceiling which can be provided in buildings already erected, as well as new structures, land which can easily and quickly be placed in position with a minimum of time and elfort on the part of the workman making such installation.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a ceiling in which a plurality of primary support members, suspended from the joists or frame of a building usually by means of wire loops, which extend in one direction of the room While runners extend transversely to the support members `are provided, which runners are secured to the support members by means of clips which `extend over the support members and outwardly therefrom and engage the runners in such manner that the runners are resiliently held against the support members so that vibration, shocks, and movements of the building can be accommodated by the elasticity of the clip as well as the runners, `and which can be easily and quickly placed in support position under the runners.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of an improved clip for holding the support members and runners in operative relationship with each other, which can be easily and quickly applied by the workmen in the installation of acoustical and insulated ceilings, and in which elongated resilient leg portions can be easily and quickly placed into position without relative movement of either the support member or the runner, and in which the support points of the runner vare spaced from thesupport member so as to provide more even distribution of the load carried by the runners and also a more hrm, but elastic, mounting of the runner against the underside of the support member thereby providing an elastic holding means which is not easily moved and which holds the insulation blocks in proper position in the ceil- I am aware that various types of clips have been provided for this purpose, but generally such clips require a relative sliding movement of either the `clips or the support member or both in order that they can be placed into position, whereas, in my improved construction, the action is a pivotal one so that the clip can be easily placed in assembled position with the support members and the runners without displacing the runners in their selected positions against the support member.

Another and further object of my invention 4is the provision of a ceiling construction in which the component parts are easily assembled with a minimum of effort on the part of the workmen making such installation more easily and quickly accomplished because of such flexibility ot parts instead of the components being made of rather strict dimensional limitations and therefore difcult of installation which bas been the practice in the past.

These and other obieots of my invention will be seen fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings and in which:

FIG. 1 :is a view partially in elevation and partially in section of my improved construction taken on line 1 1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sections shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a View partially in elevation and partially in section of the arrangement of parts sho-wn in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 'is a perspective view of a portion of the runner used in my improved ceiling construction;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clip used in my improved Iceiling construction.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a channel support member 10 is shown having a web 11 and ilanges 12 and 13 thereon which extend away from the web 11 `at right angles preferably in the same direction to the web 11 which support members are secured to the ceiling structure in any approved manner, such as by wire loops secured to the joists, or the frame members of the building, or the like, used to support a mastic floor in a building. A runner designated as a whole as 114 is provided, the runner 14 having a web section 15, a ange ysection 16, which is adapted to be fitted against the ange 13 on the support member 11, and which lis bent downward at 17 throughout its length with an upwardly extending free edge portion 18, thereby Iforming an elongated` rib 19 on the flange 16 intermediate the free edge portion 18 of the flange 16 and the web 15 of the runner 114, which rib 119 extends outwardly from the surface of the flange 16 opposite to that which is in engagement with the flange 13 on the support I11 for purposes bereinafter described. The -web 15 of 'the member 14 has double ilanges 2li" and 21 thereon extending in opposite directions from the web portion 15, lthe flange 2li being formed by ydoubling the metal forming the member 14 back upon itself `and across to the same side of the web 15 as is occupied by the flange 1.6 with the outer edge 22 being turned over to form a rib portion along the edge of the flange 21 which anges Ztl and 21 support the blocks 21, 22 by having the blocks placed thereon and in engagement with the lower surface of the blocks 22, 2,2 with the rib 21 being formed in such manner that the two ribs 20 and 21 are of the same thickness so the insulating blocks are placed in position in the ceiling in equal heights thereby presenting a smooth surface to the outer side of the blocks 22, '22. As shown, the anges 2l) and 21 are placed under the insulation or acoustical blocks Z0, Z2, 22 although these blocks may have kerfs cut in .the side edges thereof, -and the ilanges 21 and 22. tted into these kerfs if desired as is common in some forms of ceiling construction.

A plurality of clips 23 are provided, which have crown portions 24, which normally engage the ange 12 of the support member 11, and have leg portions 25 and Z6 extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom ,at a divergent angle from 4the vertical plane of the support member 1t), which leg portions 2:5 and 26 have extensions Z7 and 2S thereon which extend outward from the leg portions Z5 and 26 tand downwardly therefrom, at a lesser angle than are the portions 2S `and v2t?, and terminate in end portions 29 and Sil with connecting curved elbow portions 31 and 32 being provided whereby the end portions 29 and 36 are inwardly turned and also extend downwardly so as to pass under the ange 1Sv and the rib 19 and terminate in angularly disposed upturned tips 33 and 34, the ends of which engage the underside of the tlange 16 between the rib 19 and web 15 of the runner 14, with the edge of the free portion 18 tted into t e curved or elbow portions 31 and 32 which connect the leg portions 27 and 2% with the portions 29 and 3u thereby providing a close intertitted connection for the runner 14 against .the support member 19 with the clips 23 being made of highly `tempered wire in which :the area of elasticity is fairly evenly distributed and quite still, but yet possess sullicient elasticity so the clip can easily be manipulated into position to `hold the runner, the support member and load carried by the support member iirmly in position in the ceiling construction.

In theA assembling and erecting of a ceiling of the type shown in the drawings, the support members lil-are rst placed in position and suspended from some portion of the permanent structure, such as the joists, or the like, usually by wire loops and the clips 23 are placed thereover with their leg portions extending to each side of the support member 19, and then the runners A1d are placed in position with their upper llanges 16 fitted against the tlange 13 on the lower side of the support member 10, and the leg portion, such as and 27 of the clip 23, positioned at one side of the crown 24 would include the end 29 of the tip, such as 33, is placed in position against the underside of the flange 16 with the tip 33 in engagement with the surface of the flange 16 between the rib 19 and the web 15 of the runner, with the runner 14 being thereupon adjusted to proper position, and the workmen by pressing down on the extension 23 of the leg 26 on the opposite side of the support member 10 move the end downward because of its elasticity in which position the tip is placed into position against the underside of the llange 16 and in which position, upon the pressure upon lthe extension being removed, the end snaps into position thereby holding the runner 14 in position against the underside of the support member 10. This operation can be performed by a 'workman with one hand while his other hand is free to support himself if on a ladder, and there is no necessity of spreading the -leg of the clip or holding any of the other parts of the assembly while the clip is being placed in position.

The leg portions 25 and 26 extend outwardly and downwardly from the crown portion 24 of the clip 23 at an angle of approximately ten degrees to a perpendicular plane through the support member or to a point slightly beyond the edge of the portion 1S of the flange 16 the crown portion 24 being of suilicient length to allow some movement of the clip 23 thereon so as to provide an adjustment if Ithe ilange 12 may vary somewhat in width. In the normal position of the clip 23, the extensions 26 and 27 of .the leg portions 25 and 26 are substantially in alignment with each other just outside of the outer edge of the portion 18 of the -ilange 16 and the end portions 29 and 30 are curved inward at 31 and 32 in elbow fashion, and the tips 23 `and 24 are turned to substantially vertical position so that the ends of the tips 33 and 34 of the end portions 29 and 30 engage the under side of the flange 16 and carry the load of the runner. When in position the marginal edge of the ilange 18 tits into the elbow portions 31 and 32 of the clip between the leg extensions 27 and 28 and their end portions 29 and 30 of the extensions thereby forming a rm joint at this position, and also, bringing their end portions 29 and 30 into a position substantially perpendicular to the crown 24 of the clip 23. The Aload is thereby supported on the center of the flange portion of the runner 14, and when the clips I23 are turned into position there is a slight rotative movement of the leg portions which enables the workmen to snap the clip 23 into position under the runner 14 very easily and very quickly without movement of `any of the other parts.

It will be thus understood that the clip of my present application dilers from prior constructions in that the crown portion 24 is slightly longer to accommodate the clip to a wider support member `and to a. support member of slightly varying dimensions both as to width and height, and 'that the leg portions extend outwardly and downwardly therefrom instead of vertically alongside the support member so the clip may be easily llexed and quickly and easily applied in position by an operator, and is also cheap to manufacture as the clip can be formed with a minimum of machine operations, and there is a minimum of right Aangled turns in the clip, and that `the areas of flexure in the legs 0f the clip are distributed throughout their entire length instead of being located in -the area of right angled turns as is the case with most of the prior art structures which areas are comparatively inflexible with the result that such clips are ditlicult to apply.

It will also be understood that the leg portions of the clip of my present invention are longer with only one point of contact with the runner so the workmen do not have to thread a hook over one edge of the runner but need only to flex the leg of Ithe clip suihciently to move the end under the web of the runner which enables the workman to place the clip of my present application into position very quickly with only one hand while supporting himself with the other hand if necessary. Likewise the supporting structure is easy to remove should an installation be torn out because the tlexibility of the clips is much greater than the close tting substantially inllexible clips now in common use.

While l have described more or less precisely the details of construction, l do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as -I contemplate changes in form, the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. Ceiling construction comprising in combination a support member, a runner having a web portion and llanges integrally formed therewith along each of its edges, one of said ilanges being in normal engagement with the support member and having a rib yformed longitudinally thereof intermediate the web portion and the outer tree edge of the said tlange, the other of said tlanges extending in two directions away from the said web edge and forming ceiling tile support means, and an integrally formed resilient clip having a central crown portion in engagement with the support member, leg portions extending outwardly and downwardly from said crown portion, each of said leg portions having extensions thereon extending outward and also downward at a lesser angle than does the leg portions, the extensions having inwardly turned end portions extending under the tlange on the said runner in engagement with the support with upwardly turned tips thereon abuttingly engaging the said tlange on each side of the support member on its side opposite to the side of the tlange in engagement with the support member whereby the said runner is supported.

2. Ceiling construction comprising in combination a support member, a runner having a web portion and flanges integrally formed therewith along each of its edges, one of said flanges being in normal engagement with the support member and having a rib Vformed longitudinally thereof intermediate the web portion and the outer free edge of the said flange, the other of said ilanges extending in two directions away -from the said web edge and forming ceiling tile support means, and an integrally formed resilient clip having a central crown portion in engagement with the support member, leg portions extending outwardly and downwardly `from said crown portion a substantial ydistance from the said crown portion, each of said leg portions having extensions thereon extending outward and also downward at a Ilesser angle than does the leg portions, the extensions having inwardly turned end portions extending under the ilange on the said runner in engagement with the support with upwardly turned tips thereon abuttingly engaging the said flange on each side of the support member on its side opposite to its side in engagement with the support member whereby the said runner is supported.

3. Ceiling construction comprising in combination a support member, a runner having a web portion and anges integrally formed therewith along each of its edges, one of said anges being in normal engagement with the support member and having a rib formed longitudinally thereof intermediate the web portion and the outer free edge of the said flange, the other of said anges extending in two directions away from the said web edge and lforming ceiling tile support means, and an integrally formed resilient clip having a central crown portion in engagement with the support member, leg portions extending outwardly `and downwardly from said crown portion, each of said leg portions having extensions thereon extending outward and also downward at a lesser angle than does the leg portions, the extensions having angularly disposed inwardly turned end portions extending under the ange on the said runner in engagement with the support with upwardly turned tips thereon abuttingly engaging the ysaid ange on each side of the support member on its side opposite to its side in engagement with the support member whereby the said runner is supported.

4. Ceiling construction comprising'in combination a support member, a runner having a web portion and flanges integrally formed therewith along each of its edges, one of said flanges bein-g in normal engagement with the support member and having a rib formed longitudinally thereof intermediate the web portion and the outer lfree edge of the said flange, the otherof said anges extending in two directions away from the said web edge and forming ceiling tile support means, and an integrally `formed resilient clip having a central crown portion in engagement with the support member, leg portions extending outwardly and downwardly from said crown portion, each of said yleg portions having extensions thereon extending outward and also downward at a lesser angle than does the leg portions, the extensions on the leg portions of the clip extending below the ange of the runner in engagement with the support and having inwardly turned end portions extending under the flange on the said runner, and having upwardly turned tips thereon abuttingly engaging the said flange on each side of the support member on its side opposite to the side in engagement with the support member whereby the said runner is supported, the said clip being in biased engagement with the tlange on .the runner in engagement with the support member.

5. A ceiling construction comprising in combination a support member, a runner having a web portion and flanges integrally -formed therewith along each of its edges, one of said tlanges being in normal engagement with the support member and having -a rib formed longitudinally thereof intermediate the web portion and the outer free edge of the said ange, the other of said flan-ges extending in two directions away Ifrom the said web edge and forming ceiling tile support means, and lan integrally formed lresilient clip having a central crown portion in engagement with the support member, leg portions extending outwardly and downwardly 4from said crown portions in a plane angularly ldisposed to a perpendicular plane through the support member, each of said leg portions having extensions thereon extending outward Iand also downward `at a Ilesser angle than does the leg portions, the extensions on the leg portions of the clip extending below the flange of the runner in engagement with the support and having inwardly turned end portions extending -under the flange on the said runner in engagement with the support, and having upwardly turned -tips thereon abuttingly engaging the -said ilange on each side of the support member on its side opposite to the side in engagement with the support member whereby the said runner is supported, the said clip `being in biased engagement with the flange on the runner in engagement with the support member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,984,028 Macleod Dec. 11, 1934 2,767,440 Nelsson Oct. 23, 1956 2,843,230 Nelsson July 15, 1958 

1. CEILING CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A SUPPORT MEMBER, A RUNNER HAVING A WEB PORTION AND FLANGES INTEGRALLY FORMED THEREWITH ALONG EACH OF ITS EDGES, ONE OF SAID FLANGES BEING IN NORMAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SUPPORT MEMBER AND HAVING A RIB FORMED LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF INTERMEDIATE THE WEB PORTION AND THE OUTER FREE EDGE OF THE SAID FLANGE, THE OTHER OF SAID FLANGES EXTENDING IN TWO DIRECTIONS AWAY FROM THE SAID WEB EDGE AND FORMING CEILING TILE SUPPORT MEANS, AND AN INTEGRALLY FORMED RESILIENT CLIP HAVING A CENTRAL CROWN PORTION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SUPPORT MEMBER, LEG PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID CROWN PORTION, EACH OF SAID LEG PORTIONS HAVING EXTENSIONS THEREON EXTENDING OUTWARD AND ALSO DOWNWARD AT A LESSER ANGLE THAN DOES THE LEG PORTIONS, THE EXTENSIONS HAVING INWARDLY TURNED END PORTIONS EXTENDING UNDER THE FLANGE ON THE SAID RUNNER IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SUPPORT WITH UPWARDLY TURNED TIPS THEREON ABUTTINGLY ENGAGING THE SAID FLANGE ON EACH SIDE OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER ON ITS SIDE OPPOSITE TO THE SIDE OF THE FLANGE IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SUPPORT MEMBER WHEREBY THE SAID RUNNER IS SUPPORTED. 